It is now time for college football’s annual postseason tradition – a matchup between Clemson and Alabama.

For the third time in four years, Clemson and Alabama will play in the National Championship game for the right to be crowned the king of college football. The first two title games between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide were instant classics.

In the 2016 National Championship game, Alabama outlasted Clemson, defeating the Tigers 45-40. The following year, the two teams met again in the title game, and Clemson got its revenge, defeating the Crimson Tide 35-31.

Of course, the two programs also played last year in the College Football Playoff semi-final, a game that Alabama won handily, 24-6. There’s no doubt that the third and most recent contest in this current series between Clemson and Alabama was nowhere near as compelling as the first two games.

However, this season, Clemson has improved dramatically on the offense, putting together one of the most explosive teams in the country behind freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence. And, of course, Alabama is also much better than it was last season, as Tua Tagovailoa has taken its offense to new heights.

Some college football fans, especially those that are not fans of the Tigers or the Crimson Tide, may not be excited for another National Championship game between Clemson and Alabama. However, I’m convinced college football fans just want to see a compelling contest, no matter which schools are involved.

You did not hear many college football fans griping after the first two Clemson vs. Alabama matchups in the 2016 and 2017 National Championship games. Those two games were exciting, action-packed and featured at least one exceptional quarterback – Deshaun Watson.

In 2016, both quarterbacks, Alabama’s Jake Coker and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, put on a show. Coker threw for 335 yards with two touchdowns while Watson threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns. Coker may not have gone on to the NFL like Watson, but he played really well in his final collegiate game.

Alabama quarterback Jake Coker (14) in the College Football Playoff Championship Game on Monday January 11, 2016 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Az. (Mickey Welsh / Montgomery Advertiser)(Photo: .)

In 2017, Watson was exceptional for the second straight year, this time throwing for 420 yards and three touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown. Alabama's quarterback play was not as impressive as the year before, as Jalen Hurts threw for only 131 yards but rushed for 63 yards and accounted for two touchdowns.

Last year’s game was a lower-scoring affair in which neither quarterback was asked to win the game for his team. The 2018 matchup was about the defenses as Hurts and Kelly Bryant combined to throw for less than 250 yards. Neither quarterback played anything like Watson did in the previous two matchups or even Coker in 2016.

And that’s the difference in this year’s game compared to the previous matchups between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide. On Monday, we will finally have a Clemson vs. Alabama game that features two of the best quarterbacks in the country.

Yes, the defenses will be incredibly important, and the running backs will play a significant role, but unlike in years past, we have a national title game between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide that will feature two elite signal callers. And not to mention, the two best wide receiver units in the country.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) rolls out to throw to receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) for the winning touchdown during the fourth quarter of the National Championship game on Monday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo: Ken Ruinard/Independent Mail )

Clemson vs. Alabama Part Four is not the same movie college football fans watched in 2016, 2017 or 2018. It may be the fourth installment in the series, but if the overall talent level of the quarterbacks is any indication, this is going to be the best one yet.

Kelly Gramlich can be heard 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday on “Out of Bounds” with William Qualkinbush on WCCP 105.5 The Roar. Find her on Twitter (@kellygramlich).